Month: May 2013

One of the most popular seminars at Corvette Museum’s Bash is the one featuring members of the factory-backed Corvette Racing Team. This year the seminar featured Corvette Racing’s Program Manager Doug Fehan, driver of the #4 Corvette C6.R Tommy Milner and the #3 Corvette C6.Rs Crew Chief Dan Binks.

The trio talk about the ins and outs of the current season which started with a win at Sebring and then a 4th and 5th place finish at Long Beach. Doug talks for just a few minutes and then the team then takes questions from the audience.

There is a lot happening with Corvette Racing. Last year, the team won all three ALMS Championships – Drivers, Manufacturers and the Green-X Challenge. This year, the team is fighting to defend those championships against the likes of Viper and the new BWM. We also have the unification of the ALMS and GRAND-AM to prepare for as well as the coming of the C7.R which will debut at Daytona in January 2014.

The team talks about all this and more, plus we get the humor and camaraderie with the team members that we’ve come to expect. The video runs about an hour and 20 minutes so sit back and enjoy the Corvette Racing seminar from the National Corvette Museum’s Bash.

Corvette Racing will be back in action next weekend at Laguna Seca in Monterey. The race takes place on May 11th with the television replay coming on ESPN on May 12th.

Related:
[VIDEO] The C7 Corvette Interior Design Seminar at the 2013 NCM Bash
[VIDEO] The C7 Corvette Chassis Development Seminar from the 2013 NCM Bash
[VIDEO] The 2014 Corvette Stingray Seminar from the NCM Bash
Corvette Racing Finishes 4th and 5th at ALMS Long Beach
Corvette Racing Opens 2013 With a Win at the 12 Hours of Sebring

 

We saw the spy photos earlier this week of the Corvette Stingray working out at Milford and now Chevy has made it official with the announcement that the 2014 Corvette Stingray will serve as the official pace car at the 97th running of the Indianapols 500. The “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” happens on Sunday, May 26th.

This will be the 12th time that the Corvette will serve as the Pace Car for the Indianapolis 500. Since 2000, Corvette has paced the 500 seven times. Last year, it was a 2013 Corvette ZR1 with the 60th Anniversary package driven by celebrity chef Guy Fieri.

“It is an honor to help inaugurate the all-new Corvette Stingray at the hallowed Brickyard and further the legacy between Chevrolet and the Indianapolis 500,” said Jim Campbell, GM vice president of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “The 2014 Corvette Stingray’s performance was influenced by racing, making this prestigious assignment even more fitting.”

The 2014 Corvette Stingray has an estimated 450 horsepower from its LT1 6.2L V8 and the Z51 equipped sports car needs no additional power upgrades to lead the pack. In fact, the only changes from a stock Stingray are the addition of the safety equipment and stobe lights.

The Laguna Blue Stingray is the perfect compliment to the bevy of 2013 Camaro Hot Wheels Editions that are serving as the festival cars.

“Chevrolet is a great partner of the Speedway,” said Jeff Belskus, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Corporation president and chief executive officer. “That connection is heightened this year with the next-generation Corvette in front of a very talented field of racers.”

Click here to download a wallpaper of the 2014 Corvette Stingray Pace Car.

The 97th Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to start at noon (ET) Sunday, May 26. As of today, there has been no announcement who the celebrity driver of the 2014 Corvette Stingray will be so stay tuned for that news.

Source:
Chevrolet
Photo credits: Bret Kelley for Chevrolet

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Corvette enthusiasts are smiling to beat the band about Chevrolet’s decision to keep the price of the exciting new 2014 Stingray basically the same as the C6 it’s replacing.

But some experts believe buyers won’t be as happy when they get ready to buy from some of the exclusive group of just 900 dealers chosen to sell the Stingray.

Steve Hurley, who had the lucky foresight to call his dealership Stingray Chevrolet in Plant City, Fla., predicts some dealers may try to get $5,000 to $10,000 more than the sticker price since the vehicle is expected to be red-hot when it goes on sale later this year.

Hurley won’t be one of those dealers. He says his dealership will sell its Corvettes at MSRP.

Another prominent Chevy dealer, Harry Criswell of Criswell Corvette in Gaithersburg, Md., agrees with Hurley, saying that he’s already accepted $5,000 deposits on about 150 Stingrays that will go out his door at sticker.

Criswell says he has given in to the temptation and priced above MSRP on popular vehicles in the past, but he says it’s just not worth the ill will it creates with customers, especially Corvette buyers who usually have another car for daily use and are more likely to return for service.

Price gouging just “creates too much controversy,” Criswell told Mike Colias, who covers GM for Automotive News. “And consumers are so smart today, they’ll be blogging and tweeting about what a jerk you are before they even drive off the lot.”

Source:
Automotive News

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[VIDEO] The 2014 Corvette Stingray Seminar from the NCM Bash
The 2014 Corvette Stingray Will Start at $51,995
Download the 2014 Corvette Stingray Ordering Guide

 

One of the most remarkable transformations that Chevrolet has made with the new Corvette is the completely redesigned interior. Premium materials and lots of technology will surely quiet the detractors from previous models. Here is the interior design seminar held by Ryan Vaughan and Lucy Lahood at the 2013 National Corvette Museum’s Bash in Bowling Green, KY.

This seminar was so important that it was held twice during the Corvette Museum’s Bash. At the last minute, the seminar was moved from the Conference Center to the Chevrolet Theater so we missed the opening by just a minute or so.

What’s most interesting with this seminar is that you will see, from concept drawings to clay models to final execution with preimum materials, how the C7 Corvette’s interior came together.

Ryan shows the data from a Research Event in August 2010 on how well the Corvette’s interior rates again industry heavyweights including the Porsche 911, Audi R8 and the Nissan GT-R. In a blind test, consumers were shown the interiors without badges. The Stingray’s interior killed the competition with 46% of respondents finding the C7 “Very Appealing” compared to the others.

The other aspect that Ryan and Lucy covered was the technology in the interior. We see some different looks of how the reconfigurable high-definition screens came to be as well as some of the other functions like the hidden storage area behind the center stack monitor as well all the places to plug in and charge personal electronics via USB.

Finally, we take a spin around the interior’s color wheel with Ryan showing off all four interior colors and how they can be customized based on the package level and additional ordering options.

Following their presentation, Ryan and Lucy take questions from the audience.

Check out the C7 Corvette Interior Design Seminar from the 2013 NCM Bash:

If you liked this video, check out the full 2014 Corvette Stingray Seminar hosted by Harlan and Tadge and the C7 Chassis Development video with Mike Bailey and Jim Mero. More videos will be coming so keep watching!

Related:
[VIDEO] The C7 Corvette Chassis Development Seminar from the 2013 NCM Bash
Hear the 2014 Corvette Stingray’s Start Up Audio Sound
VIDEO] The 2014 Corvette Stingray Seminar from the NCM Bash

 

Calling all Corvette owners! Look, we know you have a garage full of Corvette parts you no longer need. Why not sell them and pocket the cash? Mid America Motorworks is holding their Spring Swapfest this Saturday and it’s your chance to buy, sell or trade from private sellers. There is even a car corral for anyone interested in selling or buying vehicles.

The swap meet is for private sellers only. All items offered for sale must be automotive parts, accessories or memorabilia for any type of auto enthusiast including Chevrolet, Ford, Mopar as well as hot rods, street rods and muscle cars. With the swap meet being held by Mid America Motorworks, obviously there is a special emphasis on Corvettes and classic VW’s.

Attendees can also purchase Mid America Motorworks’ returned, scratched and discontinued merchandise at special discount prices, plus buy new parts and accessories at 10% off catalog prices or free shipping.

In addition to all of the swapping, Mid America is also hosting two seminars about prepping your cars for Spring and Summer.

• 9:00-10:00 AM – Automotive Detailing with Derek Schmidt
• 12:00-1:00 PM – Care and Maintenance of your Braking System with Kenny Yager

May 4th is also Club Olympics! Rally your Club for a team of 5-10 Club members and take part in a friendly competition with other Clubs! Events include everything from creeper races to tire bowling and a blind-folded parts identification quiz. The winning Club receives our traveling Club Olympics trophy and bragging rights for a year. To sign up for Club Olympics, email clubs@mamotorworks.com

The fun begins this Saturday at 8:00 AM at Mid America Motorworks corporate campus on North Route 45 in Effingham, IL. To reserve your space in the swap meet or car corral, click here to register.

Source:
Mid America Motorworks

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